Is the US birth rate really on the decline? A look at five myths about the country's population problems.

The release of a Pew study saying American birth rates have hit a new low kicked off a spirited discussion about the future of the country.

But lost somewhere in the debate were a few basic facts about why the rates dropped and what happens next. Below, a look at five myths of America's declining fertility rate.

The decline is sustained and serious

Before getting too upset about these numbers, it's worth taking a look at how accurate they are.

"These kinds of forecasts have turned out to be wrong generation after generation," says Steven Bronars, a senior economist at Welch Consulting.

In an article on his personal blog, he noted two main factors that could cloud the accuracy of the numbers. One is a shift in demographics: the birth rate averages the number of children born to women aged 15-44. But, according to Bronars, there are large numbers of women at both ends of the age spectrum. Current trends in childbirth mean these women are less likely to have children then women in the middle, and as a result the number seems lower.

A century ago you would have been arguing to keep out Italians, Irish, Germans and Jews. Otherwise traditional Americans would start eating pasta and potatoes and Kosher hot dogs and drinking beer. Oh traditional America, what happened to you?

16
posted on 12/07/2012 7:45:46 AM PST
by Alter Kaker
(Gravitation is a theory, not a fact. It should be approached with an open mind...)

A century ago you would have been arguing to keep out Italians, Irish, Germans and Jews. Otherwise traditional Americans would start eating pasta and potatoes and Kosher hot dogs and drinking beer. Oh traditional America, what happened to you?

A century ago there was no welfare state, that is the big difference. It was sink or swim. Now it is freebees from the Govt if you cant quite make it. Get it? See the difference? Or are just a troll?

17
posted on 12/07/2012 7:48:51 AM PST
by central_va
( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)

America has had times of large immigration in its past, followed by periods where immigration was restricted. The simple fact is, that we can’t maintain the levels of immigration we have today, both legal and illegal and maintain our national character. This is one of the reasons we’re being turned into yet another socialiast hellhole.

18
posted on 12/07/2012 8:29:22 AM PST
by zeugma
(Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.)

It loves the decline of white Christian (and a few Jews) America due to the chip it carries on it’s shoulder for not feeling a part of it.

Despite all evidence to the contrary..like an election we just had...that poster celebrates the dissolution of the majority white?Christian voting strength because it is viewed as one of a long history of oppression against whatever that poster is...some sort of minority...but never admits it.

The absurdity of equating Irish and Jewish immigrants a century ago with the invasion often illegal of third world interlopers of whom over half are still on government assistance 20 years after arriving here is a big hint.

Shame on the mods here for tolerating such.

You will notice though that most here are waking up to the fact that kumbaya open borders types here are now very rare and folks have awakened to the notion that demographics are indeed destiny.

19
posted on 12/07/2012 8:40:36 AM PST
by wardaddy
(wanna know how my kin felt during Reconstruction in Mississippi, you fixin to find out firsthand)

Every single minority one can envision today except maybe Vietnamese voted for Obama by anywhere from slight margin...Cubans...to sizable....Jews and Latinos ...to huge percentage...Asians and Blacks (80% and 95% respectively)

any idiot here cheering on the demise of the White Christian voting block through a continued dilution via open borders whether illegal or legal is not a conservative

racial sensitivity has nothing to do with it, it's about survival and we are losing

you scratch the surface of folks here over the years espousing such and you will find the bigotry they accuse others of is firmly up their own butts

I do not think I have ever seen an exception to that ..looking back..there was always some personal angle to South bashers, open borders types or anti white or anti Christian bigots here without fail

few own up to it

and this is just about voting...not even taking into account culture and crime and ghettos/barrios and illegtimacy rates and so forth...it never ends

20
posted on 12/07/2012 8:51:27 AM PST
by wardaddy
(wanna know how my kin felt during Reconstruction in Mississippi, you fixin to find out firsthand)

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